ThomDSon 


Demand    for  an 
EdiJ.cated  Ministry 


-r!«^-Hf 


^^0^    -rc/ff^ 


Cibrarjo  of  trhe  Cheolojical  ^tminaxy 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.    LeFevre 

'BXS878 


'AN  'asHDCjAs 

•9ui  soaa  ay  jiavo 


>J3aNI9131HdVWd 
INnOWOlOHd 


iniiaiib  for  an  a-biifiitcb  Hliiiistri). 


By  the  Rev,  H,  A.  Thompson,  A.  M, 


*TW  ^ 


m  ^ 


>^ 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  witli  funding  from . 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.orq/det  reducateOOthc 


DEMAND  FOR  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY. 


A.]Sr   ADDRESS 


DELITERED  BEFORE  THE 


Students  and  Trustees  of  Western  College, 


WESTERX,  IOWA, 


AT  THE 


ANTsTXJAIL.    COM:M:EI^OIGM:E2vrT, 


BT 


Rev.  H.  a.  THOMPSON,  A.  M., 


PROFESSOR  OF  MATHEMATICS  IN  OTTERBEIN  UNIVERSITY, 


WESTERVILLE,    OHIO. 


DAYTON,  OHIO: 

UNITED   BRBTHREN  PRINTING   ESTABLISHMHNT. 
1865. 


.  x 


•.y 


ADDRESS. 


Young  Gentlemen: 

I  speak  to-night  to  those  of  you  who  trust,  that  in  the 
providence  of  God,  you  have  been  called  to  preach  the  Gospel 
of  Christ  to  a  ruined  world.  A  feartul  responsibility  is  upon 
him  who  attempts  to  teach  the  yonng,  because  in  his  hands 
rests  their  present  and  eternal  destiny.  A  still  greater  respon- 
sibility rests  upon  him  who  is  instrumental  in  forming  and 
molding  the  character  of  the  embassador  for  Christ.  In 
benefitting  him,  he  indirectly  blesses  hundreds  of  others.  In 
leading  him  astray,  he  ruins  for  time  and  eternity.  Trusting 
in  the  God  of  our  spirits  to  teach  you  aright  wherein  I  shall 
fail,  I  shall  present  to  you  some  considerations  showing  the 
urgent  demand,  at  the  present  time,  for  an  Educated  Ministry. 
This  subject  should  have  the  careful  consideration  of  all 
intelligent.  Christian  men,  because  in  proper  conclusions  upon 
it  rest  your  own  welfare  and  the  success  and  prosperity  of  the 
Church. 

In  approaching  this  subject,  I  am  immediately  met  by  an 
oft-repeated  objection  which  it  might  be  well  enough  to  dispose 
of  in  the  beginning.  "  Are  not  the  Apostles  said  to  have 
been  ignorant  and  unlearned  men^  and  were  they  not  suc- 
cessful ?"  If  we  should  confess  this,  for  argument  sake,  and 
infer  that  we,  therefore,  need  the  same  class  of  men  now,  we 
would  show  greater  presumption  than  common  sense  or  piety. 
Acknowledging  them  to  have  perfectly  suited  the  age  in  which 
they  lived,  it  does  not  at  all  follow  that  they  would  suit  this 
age.     The  world  has  not  been  stationary.     In  every  depart- 


raent  there  has  been  progress.  The  position  of  afi'airs  has 
materially  changed.  New  impulses  have  been  at  work. 
New  currents  of  thought  have  been  formed.  In  short,  a  new 
age  is  upon  us,  and  we  want  men,  in  every  respect  suited  to 
this  age. 

They  were  "  unlearned  and  commen  people^^^  the  original 
tells  us.  None  of  them,  perhaps,  except  Paul,  had  ever  sat  at 
the  feet  of  Gamaliel.  They  were  not  men  who  were  accus- 
tomed to  administer  the  affairs  of  government,  or  to  take  part 
in  civil  transactions,  but  they  came  from  the  common  walks 
of  life.  Were  they  ignorant  men  ?  Some  of  them  have  writ- 
ten books.  Do  not  them  books  completely  refute  this  asser- 
tion ?  It  requires  no  skillful  eye  to  see  that  they  were  men  of 
sterling  good  sense,  prudent  and  intelligent.  John's  writings 
show  him  to  have  been  well  acquainted  with  the  schools  of 
Grecian  Philosophy,  and  the  knowledge  he  there  obtained  he 
made  subservient  to  Christian  purposes.  Luke  was  a  physi- 
cian. The  remainder,  by  their  writings  and  their  action8,give 
unmistakable  evidence  that  they  were  men  who  understood 
their  great  work  and  were  titted  for  it. 

Who  calls  them  ignorant  ?  Rea^l  the  record.  The  rulers 
and  elders  and  scribes,  with  Ananias  and  Caiaphas,  were 
assembled  together,  and,  having  listened  to  the  addresses  of 
these  men,  they  perceived  that  they  were  unlettered.  So  they 
may  have  been.  Ignorant,  as  regards  a  knowledge  of  the  tradi- 
tions of  the  Sadducees,  and  Pharisees,  in  which  consisted  their 
greatest  amount  of  learning,  but  skilled  in  that  knowledge 
necessary  to  instruct  and  enlighten  the  heart. 

These  men  were  instructed  for  three  long  years  by  that  best 
of  all  teachers,  Him,  "  who  spake  as  never  man  spake."  He 
found  them  dull  students,  and  had  occasion  to  reprove  them 
for  their  tardiness  in  learning  the  great  truths  which  he  came 
to  teach.     Almost  wearied  in  his  efforts  he  says  to  one,  "Have 


I  been  so  long  time  -with  you,  and  yet  hast  thon  not  known 
mo,  Philip?"  He  resorted  to  the  most  simple  illustrations,  to 
the  afiairs  of  every  day  life  with  which  they  were  supposed  to 
be  familiar,  in  order  the  more  thoroughly  and  effectually  to 
imbue  their  minds  with  a  knowledge  of  the  doctrines  he  came 
to  preach.  After  having  labored  faithfully  to  instruct  them 
in  the  things  pertaining  to  Christianity,  for  fear  they  ma}  not 
fully  understand  his  meaning,  or  may  have  some  misconcep- 
tions of  the  truth,  he  presses  home  upon  their  attention  the 
appropriate  and  pertinent  question,  "  Have  ye  understood  all 
these  things?"  After  he  had  given  them  line  upon  line,  and 
precept  upon  precept,  for  the  space  of  three  years,  even  then 
they  were  not  fitted  for  the  great  work.  They  must  "  tarry  at 
Jerusalem  until  indued  with  power  from  ou  high."  They 
may  interpose  objections  and  be  anxious  to  enter  the  field, 
but  the  command  was  to  wait,  and  wait  they  did. 

"But,"  says  one,  "they  were  inspired."  So  their  writings 
testity.  We  liave  no  account  that  they  were  inspired  in  their 
•rdinary  administrations.  Their  powers  may  have  been 
strengthened  and  invigorated,  yet  we  have  no  other  evidence 
thau  that  they  were  left  to  the  ordinary  and  natural  use  of  their 
powers.  If  they  were  inspired  and  needed  not  to  acquire 
knowledge  in  the  ordinary  ways,  does  it  therefore  follow  that 
because  we  are  not  inspired,  we  should  remain  ignorant?  So 
much  the  stronger  reason  why  we  should  use  all  the  means  at 
our  command,  so  as  to  bring  ourselves  nearer  the  position 
occupied  by  the  apostles. 

Look  at  the  effects  of  apostolic  preaching.  Good  resulted. 
Many  were  converted  ;  churches  were  established ;  the  people 
of  God  were  strengthened.  Wherever  they  went  the  power  of 
the  Most  High  accompanied  tiiem,  and  that  power  was  mani- 
fested in  the  elevation  of  mankind.  If  ignorant  men  can  go 
forth  now  and  accomplish  the  same  great  work ;    can  thus 


6 

instruct  and  edify  the  church;  can  establish  and  build  up 
Christian  associations  ;  can  lay  the  foundation  for  good  re- 
sults to  come  ;  can  thus  benefit  their  fellow  men  and  promote 
the  good  of  their  Master's  cause  ;  if,  in  the  midst  of  the  evils 
surrounding  them,  they  can  show  themselves  "wise  as  ser- 
pents and  harmless  as  doves,"  then  let  us  as  a  church  send 
forth  none  but  ignorant  men.  As  long  as  they  can  not  do  this, 
and  as  long  as  their  influence  is  weakened  and  their  people 
perish  for  lack  of  knowledge,  let  ua  not  adduce  the  example 
of  the  apostles  in  support  of  the  proposition  that  God  de- 
mands ignorant  men  to  stand  upon  the  walls  of  Zion. 

That  Christ  would  appoint  ignorant  men  to  be  his  standard- 
bearers,  is  utterly  irreconcilable  with  the  whole  tenor  of 
Scripture  and  the  whole  course  of  his  own  life.  That  he  did 
do  so,  is  contrary  to  all  Jewish  history.  Perhaps  there  never 
was  a  people  so  universally  educated  as  the  Jews.  Many  of 
om*  Savior's  remarks  indicate  this.  How  often  he  asked  them 
"  Have  ye  not  read  what  Moses  saith  ?  "  "  Have  ye  not  read 
in  the  Scriptures  ? "  evidently  implying  that  the  common  peo- 
ple (because  he  addressed  them)  could  and  did  read  the 
writings  of  Moses  and  the  prophets.  We  are  told  that  when 
Pilate  placed  over  the  head  of  the  Redeemer  at  his  crucifixion 
the  inscription  in  "letters  of  Greek  and  Latin  and  Hebrew," 
that  "  this  title  was  read  by  many  of  the  Jews."  It  was  en- 
joined upon  the  people  to  teach  their  children  to  read  and 
understand  the  ordinances  which  God  had  made  known. 
"The  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day  shall  be  in  thy 
heart,  and  thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  to  thy  children, 
and  thou  shalt  write  them  upon  the  posts  of  thine  house  and 
upon  thy  gates." 

Under  the  Jewish  dispensation,  the  Priests  and  Levites  were 
not  illiterate  men.  The  Levitical  cities  were  places  of  learn- 
ing.     The    clergy,  judges,  lawyers,  physicians  and  teachers 


of  the  people  came  principally  from  the  tribe  of  Levi.  By  the 
law  of  Moses,  this  tribe  had  no  inheritance  in  the  division  of 
the  land.  It  was  chosen  oat  for  the  service  of  the  sanctuary, 
and  ha<l  to  be  supported  by  contributions  from  the  whole 
nation.  From  this  trib3  came  the  priests,  who  had  charge  of  the 
tabernacle  and  the  temple.  They  scattered  tliemselves  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country,  instructing  their  countrymen.  They 
were  employed  in  writing  and  circulating  the  Scriptures,  and 
in  explaining  them  to  the  people  whenever  they  had  an  oppor- 
tunity. They  were  to  study  the  law  diligently,  and  be  ready  to 
answer  inquiries,  which  were  made  by  others,  pertaining  to 
religion. 

Scribes  had  a  similar  business  ;  they  were,  originally,  men 
ready  with  the  pen,  but  the  name  came  to  denote  simply  a 
learned  man.  And  as  learning  among  the  Jews  was  confined 
principally  to  the  sacred  book,  the  word  came  to  denote  one 
who  was  skilled  in  the  law  of  God ;  one  whose  business  it  was 
to  procure  copies  of  the  Scriptures  and  explain  their  meaning. 
Ezra  is  called  "  a  ready  scribe  of  the  law  of  Moses.  "  They 
were  sometimes  called  doctors  of  the  law  and  lawyers,  because 
they  interpreted  the  law.  They  were  consulted  in  all  cases  of 
doubt  or  uncertainty  about  the  truth  of  the  Scriptures. 

Such  were  the  men  appointed  by  God  under  the  old  Jewish 
dispensation,  to  instruct  the  people  in  divine  truth.  Not 
ignorant  and  untutored  men,  but  scholars — the  most  learned 
men  of  the  nation.  The  people  were  intelligent,  and  needed 
intelligent  teachers.  A  whole  tribe  was  set  apart  for  the 
purpose  of  educating  and  training  themselves  for  their  ap- 
pointed work.  Did  any  doubt  rest  upon  the  mind  of  any 
one,  these  men  were  called  in  to  interpret.  They  explained 
and  enforced  the  Scriptures  in  public  and  private.  "  No  illit- 
erate man  or  mechanic  was  allowed  to  speak  in  the  synagogue 
under  any  circumstances,  but  only  the  learned." — {^Jennings' 


Jew.  Ant.  B.  11.^  C.  2.)  I  can  find  no  instance  in  Old  Test- 
ament history  where  God  commanded  ignorant  and  illiterate 
men  to  stand  before  the  people,  and  statedly  declare  his  law 
unto  them.  In  all  cases  men  thoroughly  qualified  were 
chosen,  or  if  not  thus  fitted,  they  underwent  the  necessary 
training  before  they  were  sent  forth  upon  their  mission.  Has 
God  changed  his  policy  now  ? 

More  than  this,  the  Jews  had  special  schools  for  the  educa- 
tion of  their  ministers.  Says  the  learned  Dr.  Lightfoot :  "It 
has  been  the  way  of  God  to  instruct  his  people  by  a  studious 
and  learned  ministry  ever  since  he  gave  a  written  word  to 
instruct  them.  "Who  were  the  standing  ministry  of  Israel  all 
the  time  from  the  giving  of  the  law  till  the  captivity  in 
Babylon?  Not  prophets  or  inspired  men.  These  were  but 
occasional  teachers.  They  were  the  priests  and  Levites,  who 
became  learned  in  the  law  by  study.  And  for  this  end  they 
were  distributed  into  forty-eight  cities,  as  so  many  universi- 
ties, where  they  studied  law  together.^  and  from  these  were 
sent  out  into  the  several  synagogues  to  teach  the  people.  " 
The  same  author  also  says  that  "  contributions  were  made 
for  the  support  of  these  students  while  they  studied  in  the 
universities,  as  well  as  afterward  when  they  preached  in  the 
synagogues. "  Further  on  he  says  :  "  There  were  among  the 
Jews  authorized  individual  teachers  of  great  eminence,  who 
had  divinity  schools  in  which  they  expounded  the  law  to  their 
scholars  or  disciples.  Of  these  divinity  schools,  there  is 
frequent  mention  made  among  the  Jewish  writers,  more  espe- 
cially of  the  schools  oi  Hillel  and  Shavimai.^''  Such  a  divin- 
ity professor  was  Gamaliel,  at  whose  feet  the  great  apostle  of 
the  gentiles  received  his  education. 

Yery  early  in  Jewish  history  we  read  of  the  schools  of  tho 
prophets.  In  one  of  them  Samuel  himself  taught  theology. 
The  most  prominent  of  these  schools  were  at  Naioth.^  Bethel., 
Qilgal  and  Jericho.      A  large  number  of  students  were  in 


9 

attendance  upon  these  institutions.  They  were  educated  in 
the  knowledge  of  relifjion.  and  were  under  the  supervision  of 
some  prophet,  who  was  generally  inspired.  Tiiey  were  thus 
qualified  to  become  public  preachers,  which  was  a  part  of  the 
business  of  prophets  on  Sabbath  days  and  festivals.  The 
prophets  whom  God  inspired.^  were  generally  chosen  from 
these  schools. 

In  tlie  formation  and  establishment  of  the  church,  God 
took  care  that  the  messengers  who  declared  his  will  to  the 
people,  should  on  all  occasions  be  fully  competent  for  the 
task.  They  underwent  the  necessary  training  until  they  were 
workmen  that  needed  not  to  be  ashamed.  These  schools 
received  the  Lord's  approbation.  He  himself  grew  in  wisdom 
and  stature,  as  did  all  the  prophets.  He  came  from  the  lower 
class  of  people,  but  was  not  content  to  remain  upon  the  same 
level  with  thum.  At  the  early  ago  of  twelve,  he  astonished 
his  hearers  by  his  knowledge;  and  when  he  commenced  his 
public  work,  all  the  treasures  of  knowledge  abounded  in  his 
intellectual  nature. 

1  proceed  to  notice  the  direct  arguments  in  favor  of  an 
Educated  Ministry. 

The  very  fact  that  the  Scriptures  have  heen  written  in 
what  are  noio  called  the  dead  languages^  seems  to  demand 
this.  The  very  Spirit  that  gave  the  a[)ostles  utterance  upon 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  so  that  Romans,  Jews,  Farthians,  Medes 
and  Cretans,  and  all  that  were  assembled,  couhl  iicar  and 
understand  them  in  their  own  language,  could  as  easily  have 
given  them  the  inspiration  to  multiply  written  translations  of 
the  Bible,  as  do  what  he  did.  He  did  not  do  this.  He  has 
given  us  the  glowing  imagery  of  the  Old  Testament  couched 
in  the  Hebrew  language,  and  the  pointed  logic  of  the  New,  in 
the  Greek.  It  is  true  we  havu  excellent  translations  of  these, 
but  they  are  only  translations.  It  is  the  Hebrew  and  Greek 
words  that  are  inspired,  and  not  our  translations.      The  words 


10 

are  the  very  words  of  God,  in  which  thoughts,  like  precious 
gems  of  metal,  are  locked,  requiring  only  the  key  of  study 
to  open  them.  He  who  can  not  read  these,  has  never  seen  the 
inspired  word  ©f  God  as  it  really  is;  as  it  came  from  God 
himself.  He  has  not  heard  the  oracle  of  the  temple  speak, 
but  merely  some  fallible  mai^  like  himself,  standing  at  the 
door  repeating  as  well  as  he  could,  the  utterance.  He  has 
not  seen  the  original  portrait  of  God's  will,  as  drawn  by  him- 
self, as  every  teacher  should.  He  has  merely  looked  upon  a 
second-hand  picture — a  human  copy  of  the  portrait.  The 
very  fact  that  God  has  designedly  locked  up  his  richest  truths 
in  these  dead  languages,  strongly  indicates  that  he  would 
have  the  guides  of  his  people  study  to  "  show  themselves 
approved, "  and  that  he  is  not  one  who  patronizes  stupidity, 
or  encourages  willful  ignorance. 

This  leads  to  another  thought :  No  man  can  properly 
understand  the  word  of  God  unless  he  is  to  some  extent  con- 
versant with  these  languages.  Every  student  knows  that  the 
best  translations  at  our  command  can  not,  do  not  give  the 
true  meaning  of  the  original.  There  are  nice  shades  of 
meaning,  minute  distinctions,  that  will  throw  light  upon  the 
whole  thought,  and  which  a  translation  can  not  give.  lu  the 
formation  of  the  original  word,  its  derivations  and  modifica- 
tions, its  history — because  a  nation's  history  is  written  in  its 
language — there  is  often  embodied  a  world  of  meaning,  vast 
magazines  of  thought,  which  only  the  words  themselves  can 
reveal.  The  skillful  linguist  sees  all  these  things,  and  they 
modify  and  correct  all  his  impressions  of  truth.  They  suggest 
to  him  new  thoughts  in  the  enunciation  of  that  truth.  We 
have  an  excellent  translation,  and  yet  often  the  precise  mean- 
ing is  not  given ;  at  least  not  given  so  as  to  be  free  from 
ambiguity.  In  the  Hebrew  especially,  the  emotional  element 
is  necessary  to  a  correct  understanding,  and  yet  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  render  this,  and  frequently  in  our  version  it  has 


11 

not  been  attempted.  The  emotion  very  often  rests  in  some 
little  particle,  some  particular  collocation  of  the  words,  and 
very  olten  in  the  absence  of  the  vpords  themselves.  The  very 
moment  we  attempt  to  put  it  into  words,  and  make  a  distinct 
logical  statement,  we  lose  all  its  power.  We  may  use  peri- 
phrastic forms  (even  this  we  can  not  do  unless  linguists), 
resort  to  various  expedients,  so  as  to  approximate  the  mean- 
ing, but  even  then  we  have  lost  the  intensity.  We  may 
dissect  the  body,  see  where  the  life  was ;  but,  to  a  great 
extent,  the  life  itself,  the  all -animating  power,  is  gone.  Our 
translation  often  fails  to  give  us  as  much  of  that  life  as  it 
might  do.  In  the  present  translation  we  read:  ''  From  ever- 
lasting unto  everlasting  thou  art  God  ;  "  a  simple  statement. 
In  the  original  we  read  :  "  From  everlasting  unto  everlasting 
thou — oh,  God ! "  a  sentence  containing  the  same  thought  as  the 
other,  and  yet  more  effectually  brought  home  to  us  through 
the  medium  of  the  heavenly  emotion  accompanying  it.  "Thy 
throne,  oh,  God !  is  forever  and  ever."  Throw  out  the  inter- 
polations, and  you  read :  "  Thy  tisroue — oh  God  ! — forever  and 
ever."  If  the  reader  can  put  himself  in  the  position  of  the 
writer,  he  finds  in  the  meaning  of  a  particle,  or  the  omission 
of  a  word  sometimes,  an  intensity  of  emotion  which  the 
reader  of  the  mere  translation  can  never  get.  "  The  fool 
hath  said  in  his  heart,  there  is  no  God."  New  read:  ''The 
fool  says  in  his  heart — no  God. "  How  slight  the  change, 
anil  yet  how  great  the  ditTerence!  In  one  case  a  simple 
statement ;  in  the  other,  the  poor  fool  talking  to  himself, 
or  musing,  as  the  original  strictly  teaches,  or  rather  the 
foolish  thoughts  talking  with  each  other.  "  God  is  not  in 
all  his  thougiits, "  says  the  common  version,  implying  that 
he  is  in  some.  Says  the  Hebrew,  "No  God — all  his 
thoughts.  "  It  is  not  a  forgetful uess.  The  conceptions,  ideas, 
thoughts,  and  emotions,  indeed  his  whole  soul  is  Godless, 
wholly  atheistic. 


12 

In  the  omission  of  words,  sometimes  we  see  this  richness, 
this  depth  of  meaning.  Says  our  translation,  "  Let  it  alone 
this  year,  and  if  it  bear  fruit,  well ;  "  now  read  the  original, 
"Let  it  alone  this  year,  and  if  it  bear  fruit" — no  answer 
given,  and  yet  more  expressive  than  words  could  make  it. 
"  Take  no  thought  for  your  life,  what  ye  shall  eat, "  says  our 
version.  The  Greek  reads,  "  Do  not  be  troubled  or  annoyed 
about  your  life,  "  implying  not  that  we  should  care  nothing 
about  the  affairs  of  this  life,  but  that  they  should  not  be 
allowed  to  trouble  us.  He  who  confers  all  other  blessings, 
will  also  grant  these.  "  And  John  was  baptizing  at  Enon, 
near  to  Salem,  because  there  was  much  water  there, "  says 
our  version.  Therefore,  argue  our  Baptist  brethren,  if  he 
needed  much  water,  he  must  have  desired  to  immerse  the 
people.  Says  the  original,  "Many  Btvesmis^''  (polla  iidaia), 
many  little  streams  or  creeks,  I'or  which  that  country  was 
remarkable,  and  not  one  deep  river.  "  But  to  sit  on  my  right 
hand  or  on  my  left  hand  is  not  mine  to  give,  but  it  shall  be 
given  to  to  them  for  whom  it  is  prepared."  Our  translation 
would  imply  that  it  did  not  rest  in  the  hands  of  the  Savior, 
but  that  some  other  had  the  disposing  of  it.  Tiiis  is  not  the 
true  rendering.  Says  the  Greek,  "  To  sit,  "  (fee,  "is  not  mine 
to  give,  except  to  those  for  whom  it  is  prepared. "  If  these 
persons  are  those  to  wliom  I  have  appointed  this  position, 
then  they  shall  have  it. 

These  few  selections  out  of  a  thou.sand  are  sufficient  to  con- 
vince you  that  the  minister  who  has  access  to  the  original 
Scriptures  holds  in  his  hands  a  power  which  the  reader  of  the 
mere  translation  can  never  possess.  He  has  access  to  a  vast 
treasury,  which  no  one  save  the  scholar  can  behold. 

Much  other  knowledge  is  necessar}'-  to  a  proper  under- 
standing of  the  Scriptures,  Every  ago  has  its  distinguishing 
characteristics.  The  peculiar  modes  of  thought,  and  all  the 
surrounding  circumstances  which  give  power  to  ideas  in  one 


13 

age  of  the  world,  in  another  have  lost  their  force.  We  must 
place  ourselves  in  tlic  condition  of  the  people,  and  see  from 
their  stand-point,  if  we  would  understand  as  they  did.  We 
must  become  familiar  with  oriental  expressions  and  peculiar- 
ities of  thought,  with  eastern  imagery,  the  structure  of 
Hebrew  poetry,  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  inhabitants, 
their  inner  and  public  life,  their  various  kinds  of  business,  the 
workings  of  their  social,  religious  and  political  systems,  the 
great  central  truths  which  every-where  stirred  the  nation,  the 
peculiarities  of  the  country,  its  geography  and  the  nature  of 
its  scenery,  with  its  influence  upon  the  training  of  the  people 
and  the  production  of  their  literature,  the  wealth  and  grand- 
eur of  its  cities,  its  power  for  delensive  and  aggressive  war, 
the  influence  of  other  nations  in  controlling  its  life  progress, 
a  knowledge  of  the  history  of  other  peoples  with  its  bearing 
upon  the  fulfillment  of  prophecy,  the  great  part  they  respect- 
ively acted  in  carrying  out  the  designs  of  Deity;  where  tlie 
particular  books  of  Scripture  were  written,  when  and  by 
whom,  the  nature  of  the  authors,  age  in  which  they  lived,  a 
knowledge  of  the  arts  and  sciences  which  the  people  then 
possessed,  a  general  history  of  tiie  literature  of  the  day  the 
aim  of  the  writers,  the  class  of  persons  for  whom  they  wrote, 
and  the  schools  of  philosophy  then  prevalent;  how  these 
books  have  been  preserved,  and  whether  or  not  we  have  the 
inspired  Scriptures  ;  have  there  been  any  interpolations,  or  is 
the  copy  correct?  are  the  statements  therein  recorded  mere 
theories,  or  facts  capable  of  being  substantiated  by  testimony  ? 
a  knowledge  of  the  facts  of  history  in  their  bearing  upon  the 
interpretation  of  Scripture  scenes  ;  the  records  of  Egypt,  and 
the  atony  pillars  of  Assyria  and  Babylon;  the  teachings  of 
geology,  as  confirming  the  Mosaic  account  of  creation  ;  the 
facts  of  physiological  science,  as  asserting  the  unitv  of  man  • 
of  chemistry,  as  illustrating  many  passages  of  sacred  Scrip- 
ture. 


14 

I  need  not  enumerate.  ISIot  a  fact  in  nature,  not  a  page  in 
history,  not  a  truth  in  mental  and  moral  science,  not  a  prin- 
ciple in  philosophy,  scarcely  a  thought  in  all  the  vast  range 
of  literature,  art,  or  science,  but  may  be  made  subservient  to 
the  great  work  of  unfolding  the  meaning  of  divine  truth. 

I  argue  the  need  of  a  thorough  education,  hi  order  to  make 
the  minister  a  skillful  teacher  /  "  a  workman  that  needeth  not 
to  be  asliaiiied."  To  this  end  every  science  may  pay  tribute, 
and  every  field  of  tlionght  afford  material.  His  commission 
commands  him  to  "  go  teach  all  nations."  It  is  not  enough 
that  men  have  been  converted ;  they  must  be  edified  and 
instructed  ;  must  be  trained  and  nurtured  in  religion.  It  is 
not  enough  that  an  army  be  raised  ;  it  must  be  disciplined 
and  led  forth  to  battle.  It  is  not  enough  that  the  farmer  sows 
his  seed  ;  he  must  cultivate  and  train  and  prune  until  he 
can  gather  the  fnll  sheaf  into  his  barn.  To  instruct,  was  the 
business  of  Christ  himself.  The  minister  must  come  in 
contact  with  all  classes  of  mind  ;  men  of  various  shades  of 
opinion  ;  men  of  varitid  intellectual  culture  and  diversity  of 
talent.  He  must  be  prepared  to  meet  the  ignorant  and  the 
intelligent ;  to  solve  the  doubts  of  one,  and  put  to  silence  the 
sophisms  of  the  other.  He  must  be  all  things  to  all  men* 
He  must  be  a  man  of  varied  knowledge,  of  ripe  thought,  of 
logical  reasoning  powers,  and  skillful  in  the  doctrines  and 
interpretations  of  Scripture. 

A  fine  example,  showing  to  the  minister  the  necessity  for 
having  boundless  resources  of  knowledge,  is  found  in  the 
nainisterial  life  of  the  Savior.  His  aim  was  to  instruct  the 
people,  and  every  thought,  every  illustration  from  nature, 
every  fact  of  science,  every  truth  in  history  that  would  avail 
in  the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose,  was  employed.  What 
beautiful  simplicity  and  adaptability  in  all  his  teachings ! 
How  pertinent  his  thoughts,  and  how  opportunely  selected  ! 


15 

In  his  hands,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  the  beasts  of  the  field,  the 
lily  of  the  valley,  the  sand  of  the  sea-shore,  the  hair  of  the 
head,  the  thirst  of  the  widow,  the  unfruitful  fig-tree,  the  cities 
of  the  hill,  all  become  instructive  and  impressive  sermons. 
Standing  by  Jacob's  well,  he  represents  true  piety  under  the 
image  of  "  liviug  water. "  When  he  meets  the  fishermen, 
he  asks,  "  What  man  is  there  of  you,  whom  if  his  son 
ask  a  fish,  will  he  give  him  a  serpent?"  After  multi- 
plying the  loaves,  having  the  minds  of  his  hearers  intent 
upon  the  miracle,  he  tells  them,  ''  I  um  the  bread  of  life;  he 
that  cometh  unto  me  shall  never  hunger."  When  seed-time 
approaches,  he  exclaims,  "  Say  ye  not  four  months,  and  then 
cometh  the  harvest?"  While  teaching  liis  disciples,  and 
observing  a  city  upon  an  adjoining  hill,  he  tells  them,  "Ye  are 
a  city  set  upon  a  hill  that  can  not  be  hid.  "  While  the  sheep 
are  standing  around  the  temple,  ready  to  be  sacrificed  for  the 
feast  of  the  Passover,  he  says,  "  1  am  tlie  good  shepherd,  and 
lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep."  Having  partaken  of  the 
wine,  and  made  it  a  symbol  of  his  blood,  he  tells  them,  "  I 
am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches.  " 

When  on  his  way  I'rom  Capernaum  to  the  lake,  treading 
among  lilies,  and  with  sparrows  above  liis  head,  he  teaches 
his  disciples  of  a  Providence  who  cares  for  them.  At  the 
feast  of  the  tabernacles,  while  the  people  were  drawing  water 
out  of  the  fountain  of  Siloam  to  pour  upon  the  sacrifices,  and 
while  they  sing,  "  With  joy  shall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the 
well  of  salvation,"  Jesus  tells  them,  ''If  any  man  thirst, 
let  him  come  to  me  and  drink. "  Immediately  before  giving 
sight  to  the  blind,  he  proclaims,  "  I  am  the  light  of  the 
world. "  In  seed-time  he  relates  the  parable  of  the  man 
"who  went  forth  to  sow.  "  In  the  spring,  when  the  branches 
put  forth  their  leaves,  he  says,  "  Behold  the  fig-tree  and  all 
the  trees  ;  when  they  now  shoot  Ibrth,  ye  say  and  know  of 
yourselves  that   summer  is   nigh  at  hand  ;    so    likewise  ye, 


16 

when  ye  see  these  things  come  to  pass,  know  that  the  king- 
dom of  God  is  nigh  at  hand." 

In  his  parables  you  see  the  same  wisdom,  the  same  happy 
simplicity.  In  this  method  of  instruction,  practiced  by  all 
nations,  he  excelled.  You  see  him  using  the  most  simple  cir- 
cumstances in  life  to  press  home  upon  his  hearers  the  thrilling 
truths  of  the  gospel.  By  the  ten  virgins,  he  teaches  us  the 
necessity  of  a  preparation  for  heaven ;  the  pearl  of  great 
price,  the  exceeding  value  of  Christ  as  offered  to  us  in  the 
gospel ;  the  talents,  the  improvement  of  our  time  and  all  our 
powers  for  our  Master's  use ;  the  house  and  kingdom  divided 
against  themselves,  the  necessity  of  union  ;  the  seed  growing 
secretly,  the  silent  yet  eflScient  influence  of  divine  truth  ;  the 
blind  leading  the  blind,  the  great  danger  of  trusting  to  false 
teachers ;  the  good  Samaritan,  the  necessity  of  showing 
mercy  toward  our  neighbor ;  the  lost  sheep,  the  love  of  God 
in  caring  for  sinful  man. 

All  these  subjects  are  happily  chosen.  The  plan  is  wisely 
unfolded.  The  narration  is  interesting,  and  the  meaning 
definite  and  clear.  No  story  too  simple,  no  allusion  too  mag- 
nificent, no  thought  too  grand,  if  it  will  but  illustrate  the 
truth,  and  rivet  it  more  firmly  upon  the  minds  of  the  hearers. 

We  have  another  example  in  Scripture,  showing  us  how  all 
knowledge  may  be  made  useful  in  the  exposition  of  truth; 
the  example  of  a  man  we  would  do  well  to  imitate. 

Ephestis  was  a  prominent  city  of  the  East,  renowned  for  its 
learning  and  its  idolatry.  Here  stood  the  wonder  of  the 
world,  the  pride  of  Ionic  WL-alth  and  Ionic  architecture — the 
temple  of  the  great  Ephesian  Diana.  Here  flourished  magic, 
with  all  the  tricks  of  Eastern  jugglery.  Thousands  of  traders 
in  talismans  here  lived  and  grew  wealthy  on  the  superstitions 
of  the  foolish  people.  Here  were .  celebrated  schools  of 
rhetoric,   learning,  and    philosophy,    that    the    Greeks  were 


17 

always  accustomed  to  support  wherever  their  language  was 
spoken  ;  schools  which,  if  they  did  not  aid  materially  in  the 
discoveiy  of  much  new  truth,  at  least  promoted  a  certain 
kind  of  intellectual  culture.  Here,  too,  the  Jew,  that  home- 
less one,  who  had  a  foothold  but  no  resting-place  upon 
almost  every  soil,  had  built  a  synagogue.  Here  were  Jews, 
the  disciples  of  John  the  Baptist,  waiting  patiently  for  that 
great  Deliverer  whom  he  foretold  to  be  near  at  hand. 

Paul  enters  Ephesus.  He  had  been  here  previous  to  this 
time,  but  the  visit  was  a  transient  one.  He  goes  into  the 
synagogue,  and  preaches  to  his  countrymen.  Although  a 
Bervant  of  God  and  apostle  to  the  gentiles,  he  has  not  re- 
nounced his  nationality.  The  gospel  which  he  preaches  is 
but  a  consummation  of  that  which  Moses  and  the  prophets 
taught.  How  lull  of  rich  suggestions  ;  what  food  foi*  thought 
in  his  conversations  and  discourses  in  the  synagoo-ue  for 
the  space  of  three  months,  while  one  after  another  of  those 
who  had  long  been  agitated  by  conflicting  theories,  and  who 
had  long  been  wavering,    now  yield  to  his  arguments    and 

with  joy  acknowledge  Christ  to  be  the  Savior  of  the  world 

the  Messiah  that  was  to  come.  Parties  are  formed.  A  con- 
troversy arises  among  them.  A  few  adhere  to  the  apostle 
and  these  form  the  germ  of  a  religious  community.  But 
Paul  was  more  catholic  in  his  views  ;  more  noble-hearted 
.more  liberal,  perhaps,  than  any  Jew  that  ever  preceded  him. 
He  looks  bejond  his  own  precincts  and  interest  to  oflfer  the 
.gospel  to  Grecian  Asia.  He  wants  to  attack  paganism  in  its 
very  stronghold.  Here  where  Idolatry  has  raised  her  temples, 
and  laid  the  foundations  deep,  he  will  ply  the  most  powerful 
engines  of  his  artillery.  Here  at  the  very  confluence  of 
Egyptian,  Grecian,  Roman,  and  Oriental  idolatries,  he  will 
propagate  truth  that  will  overturn  this  great  temple,  drive  the 
idols  to  the  moles  and  bats,  and  send  the  gospel  of  the 
Redeemer  throughout  the  land.  He  i^,  oQt  CQntBul)!  i^il i h'^ 
a 


18 

can  stand  where  he  shall  have  power,  with  the  great  lever  of 
of  the  gospel,  to  move  the  world  of  superstition  and  degrada- 
tion that  surrounds  him. 

That  little  band   of  disciples,  as  they  came  together  for 
worship  and  fraternal  communion,  could  give  him  no  such  a 
position.      He  burns  with  a  holy  ambition  to  dare  and  do  for 
his  Master.    This  desired  position  he  found,  through  the  kind 
providence  of  God,  in  one  of  the  schools  of  Grecian  Philos- 
ophy with  which  that  city  could  not  fail,  to  be  supplied.     In 
these  schools  there  was  a  professed  inquiry  after  truth,  and 
accordingly  a  freedom  of  debate  and  discussion  was  allowed, 
which  gave  abundant  advantages.      A  man  of  letters,  skilled 
in   the   wisdom   of  the   Greeks   and   the   knowledge   of  the 
Scriptures,  he  availed  himself  of  the  kindness  of  one  of  these 
teachers.     He   participated   in   these  discussions.     Says  the 
historian  Luke,  he  was  "  found  disputing  daily  in  the  school 
of  one  Tyrannus;  and  this  he  continued  for  the  space  of  two 
years. "     Here  was  the  offer,  and  he  accepted.     No  better 
opportunity  for  preaching  to  the  gentile  population,  in  fact 
the  entire  population  of  city  aud  country,  could  have  been 
found,  than   the  one  which  now  presented  itself.      He  flung 
himself  into  the  midst  of  the  struggle,  and  with  a  brawny 
arm  at  his  command,  dealt  mighty  blows  for   his   Master's 
cause.     A  learned  man ;    gifted  with  all  the  acquisitions  of 
the  schools,  and   a  knowledge  of  the  arts  aud  sciences  ;  with 
unsurpassed  eloquence   and   logic   at  his   command ;    every 
literary  and  scientific  argument  must  be  brought  into  service, 
to  do  battle  for  the  truth.     Day  after  day  he  debated  in  that 
literarj'  institution  for  the  space  of  two  years ;  and  so  success- 
ful was  he  in  diffusing  light  among  the  inhabitants  of  that 
city,  as  well  as  of  the  surrounding  country,  that  Luke  tells  us, 
"  All  they  who  dwelt  in  Asia  heard  the  word  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  both  Jew  and  Greek. "     The  light  which  he  was  daily 
putting  forth  in  the  school  of  Tyrannus  had  its  effect  upon 


19 

other  minds,  men  of  high  intellect,  and  was  borne  by  them 
into  other  parts  of  the  country.  Darkness  was  being  scat- 
tered as  by  a  visitation  from  on  high.  Not  only  was  the 
effect  seen  upon  those  who  directly  felt  its  power,  but  it  was 
noticed  in  the  great  change  of  public  sentiment.  The  estab- 
lished idolatry  was  beginning  to  lose  its  hold  upon  the  minds 
of  the  people,  so  that  the  branches  of  trade  which  depended 
upon  their  support,  were  materially  affected.  A  glorious 
tribute  is  paid  to  the  labors  of  this  apostle  by  the  craftsmen, 
who  complained  that  "  not  alone  in  Ephesus,  but  almost 
throughout  all  Asia,  this  Paul  hath  persuaded  and  turned 
away  much  people,  saying  that  there  be  no  gods  which  are 
made  with  hands. " — Acts,  xix,,  26, 

After  such  a  noble  record,  made  by  the  sacred  penman,. of 
the  great  value  of  learning  in  upholding  and  diffusing  the 
truth,  let  no  man  attempt  to  denounce  these  twin  sisters, 
Religion  and  Learning ;  above  all  things,  let  that  man  never 
be  a  minister  of  the  everlasting  gospel. 

Tliere  are  texts  which  no  minister  can  explain  and  enforce 
without  at  least  a  partial  knowledge  of  the  sciences.  How 
can  he  rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth  and  edity  his  hearers- 
and  receive  the  approbation  of  his  God  in  discussing  such. 
texts  as  the  following  :  "  Who  maketh  Arcturus,  Orion,  and 
Pleiades,  and  the  chambers  of  the  South  ; "  "  Seek  Him  that 
maketh  the  Seven  Stars  and  Orion  ? "  How  can  he  adequately 
appreciate  the  Psalmist's  teaching,  "  The  heavens  declare  the 
glory  of  God,  and  the  firmament  showeth  his  handiwork, "  if 
he  be  ignorant  of  the  the  first  principles  of  astronomical 
science  ?  When  he  has  been  instructed  in  Botany,  he  can 
properly  "consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  "  Having .  learned. 
Geology,  then  can  he  better  enforce  the  truth,  that  "  in  the 
beginning  God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,"  and 
utterly  silence  the  cavils  of  infidxility,  that  would  deprive  ua 
of  a   God,  and   make   our  world    "  a   mighty   maze  and  all 


20 

without  a  plan. "  With  a  knowledge  of  the  first  principles 
of  Physiology,  and  the  history  of  medical  science,  he  can 
make  even  infidels  bear  testimony  to  the  truth  that  "  God 
hath  of  one  blood  made  all  the  nations  of  men  to  dwell 
upon  the  face  of  the  earth."  How  often  have  the  words, 
"  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him 
drink ;  for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his 
head, "  been  quoted  to  show  how  refined  a  feeling  of  revenge 
may  be  obtained  by  returning  good  for  evil !  How  forcible 
the  reference  when  Chemistry  tells  us  that  that  this  is  "a 
beautiful  metaphor  taken  from  the  observance  of  the  ancient 
practice  of  smelting  ores  with  carbonaceous  fuel,  and  meaning 
to  subdue  an  enemy  by  kindness  as  metals  are  melted  and 
reduced  by  fire."  With  a  knowledge  of  the  principles  and 
laws  governing  the  evaporation  of  fluids,  how  scientifically 
correct  the  text,  "  All  the  rivers  run  into  the  sea,  yet  the  sea 
is  not  full ;  unto  the  place  from  whence  the  rivers  come, 
thither  do  they  return  again. "  If  he  has  examined  the 
science  of  Meteorology,  and  made  himself  familiar  with  the 
laws  by  which  the  system  of  winds  is  governed,  as  far  as  they 
have  been  discovered  by  our  ablest  philosophers,  how  much 
better  fitted  to  explain  the  text,  "  The  wind  goeth  toward  the 
south,  and  turneth  about  unto  the  north  ;  it  whirleth  about 
contiiiually,  and  the  wind  returneth  again  according  to  his 
circuits.  " 

When  he  speaks  of  the  overthrow  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
he  has  the  testimony  of  an  officer  of  our  own  navy  (Lieu- 
tenant Lynch),  who  labored  faithfully,  and  succeeded  in 
demonstrating  the  truthfulness  of  the  Scripture  statement  con- 
cerning the  destruction  of  these  cities.  Layard  has  disen- 
tombed from  Nineveh  the  strongest  corroborations  of  its  past 
history,  and  has  found  upon  the  sculptured  marble,  testimony 
confirming  the  account  of  the  miracle  said  in  the  Scriptures 
•  to  have  been  performed  in   the  case  of  the   prophet  Jonah. 


21 

If  he  would  learn  the  lessons,  he  could  learn  and  communi- 
cate the  knowledge  that  is  embodied  in  the  prophecies  of 
Scripture  and  their  fulfillment ;  if  he  would  open  up  the  vast 
treasures  of  information  contained  therein,  and  instruct  the 
people  so  that  they  may  be  ready  to  give  an  answer  for 
the  faith  that  is  in  them,  how  extensive  and  how  varied 
should  be  his  acquirements.  What  lessons  of  God's  care  and 
protection,  as  well  as  withering  efi'ects  of  his  wrath,  maj 
be  learned  in  the  past  and  present  history  of  the  Jewish 
nation,  of  Babylon,  Philistia,  Moab,  Damascus,  Media, 
Egypt,  Assyria,  Idumea,  Arabia,  Tyre,  Edom,  and  the  lives 
of  Cyrus  and  Sennacherib,  with  the  thousand  other  cases 
of  prophecy  mentioned  in  holy  writ  ?  Every  thing  bearing 
upon  the  fulfillment  of  these  prophecies  needs  to  be  exam- 
ined. The  records  of  history  must  be  searched,  and  the 
accounts  of  intelligent  travelers  who  have  visited  these 
renowned  lauds  of  the  East,  and  who  have  been  compelled, 
often  unwillingly,  to  bear  testimony  to  the  truth  of  Scripture 
history,  must  be  studied.  Productions  throwing  light  upon 
the  present  condition  of  nations ;  the  revelations  of  a  Raw- 
linson  or  a  Layard;  the  discoveries  of  our  most  indefatigable 
pioneers;  the  records  of  monuments  illustrating  Scripture 
scenes  and  substantiating  Scripture  assertions, — all  form  a 
part  of  the  minister's  furniture,  if  he  would  show  himself  a 
workman  of  God. 

An  interesting  example,  showing  the  great  value  of  a 
knowledge  of  sacred  and  profane  history  in  understanding 
many  passages  of  revelation,  and  thus  indirectly  confirming 
the  truth  of  holy  writ,  is  found  in  the  thirty-ninth  chapter 
and  first  verse  of  Isaiah.  "At  that  time  Mcrodacli-baladan, 
the  son  of  Baladan,  king  of  Babylon,  sent  letters  and  a  pres- 
ent to  Ilezekiah,  "  &c.  In  regard  to  this  statement  of  the 
prophet,  no  little  difiiculty  has  been  felt  by  commentators, 
and  it  is  only  lately  that  the  difficulty  has  been  removed,  and 


^2 

in  such  a  way  as  to  furnish  a  striking  demonstration  of  the 
minute  accuracy  of  the  sacred  narrative. 

The  diflSculty  arose,  first,  because  this  king  of  Babylon  is 
nowhere  else  mentioned  in  sacred  history ;  second,  the  king- 
dom of  Assyria  was  yet  flourishing,  and  Babylon  was  one  of 
its  dependencies. — (2d  Kings  xvii.,  24;  2d  Chron.  xxxiii., 
11).  These  examples  prove  that  at  the  time  of  Hezekiah, 
Babylon  was  dependent  on  the  Assyrian  king.  Who,  then, 
was  this  Merodach-baladan,  king  of  Babylou  ?  If  he  was 
•simply  governor  of  the  city,  how  could  he  send  an  embassy 
to  the  Jewish  sovereign,  then  at  war  with  his  lord  ?  Until 
lately,  Scripture  interpreters  could  give  no  satisfactory  reply. 

"In  this  darkness  of  doubt,"  says  Dr.  Wiseman,  "we 
must  have  continued,  and  the  apparent  contradiction  of  this 
text  to  other  passages  would  have  remained  inexplicable,  had 
not  the  progress  of  modern  oriental  study  brought  to  light  a 
document  of  most  remarkable  antiquity.  This  is  notliing  less 
than  a  fragment  of  Berosus,  preserved  in  the  chronicle  of 
"Eusebius.  This  interesting  fragment  informs  us  that  after 
Sennacherib's  brother  had  governed  Babylon,  as  Assyrian 
viceroy,  Acises  unjustly  possessed  himself  of  the  supreme 
•command.  After  thirty  days  he  was  nmrdered  by  Merodach- 
baladan,  who  usurped  the  sovereignty  for  six  months,  when 
he  was  in  turn  killed,  and  was  succeeded  by  Elibus,  But 
after  three  years,  Sennacherib  collected  an  array,  gave  the 
usurper  battle,  conquered  and  took  him  prisoner.  Having 
once  more  reduced  Babylon  to  his  obedience,  he  left  his  son 
Assordan,  the  Esorhaddan  of  Scripture,  as  governor  of  the 
city."— (Sci.  (&  Rev. p.  369.) 

No  man  can  have  a  proper  conception  of  himself.,  of  God^ 
or  of  the  great  theme  of  redemption.,  and  of  course  can  not 
teach  others^  unless  he  he  a  man  of  knowledge.  The  ignorant 
man  looks  upon  the  heavens  above  him  with  ''a  brute  uncon- 
scious gaze, "  not  thinking  of  any  aim  in  their  creation,  save 


23 

his  own  pleasure  and  gratification.  The  man  of  science,  with 
the  aid  of  the  telescope,  converts  those  twinkling  orbs  "that 
shine  like  diadems  on  the  brow  of  nigiit, "  into  so  many  vast 
and  majestic  spheres,  infinitely  superior  to  our  little  globe, 
perhaps  peopled  by  millions  of  intelligent  beings;  observes 
with  what  regularity  and  precision  they  perform  all  their 
accustomed  movements;  ever  moving,  yet  never  conflicting; 
revolving  side  by  side  with  their  sister  planets  in  love  and 
harmony;  subject  to  innumerable  perturbations,  yet  never 
rebelling  or  spreading  discord, — what  an  idea  must  such  an 
one  have  of  the  greatness,  love,  power,  and  wisdom  of  that 
Being  who  made  all  these  things,  and  how  fitted  to  sympa- 
thize with  the  Psalmist  in  his  outgushings,  "Great  and 
marvelous  are  thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty ;  in  wisdom 
hast  thou  made  them  all  ?  " 

When  he  goes  forth  into  the  vast  field  of  nature,  and 
attempts  to  explore  her  mysteries ;  observes  the  great  law  of 
gravitation,  like  the  law  of  love  in  religion,  evea'  drawing  and 
binding  the  parts  together;  examines  the  means  for  the  pro- 
duction and  reproduction  of  plants ;  beholds  their  growth, 
decay,  and  reappearance  in  other  and  varied  forms ;  is 
delighted  with  the  gorgeous  colors  of  the  painted  flower ;  sees 
the  rich  abundance  that  God  has  every-where  thrown  around 
us,  as  well  as  the  wise  and  beneficent  laws  for  the  expanding 
and  controlling  of  the  powers  ot"  created  objects, — in  all  these 
things  does  he  truly  read  of  <God. 

In  the  bowels  of  the  rock-ribbed  earth,  he  reads  upon  the 
stones  the  teachings  of  Deity.  He  sees  the  vast  population 
that  inhabited  the  eartli  years  before  man  ever  set  foot  upon 
the  soil.  He  learns  lessons  of  power,  of  providence,  of  wis- 
dom, recorded,  as  with  pen  of  iron,  upon  the  flinty  rock.  He 
finds  the  stones  of  the  field  in  league  with  the  Bible,  both 
teaching  the  same  fact, — God,  the  Creator  of  the  heavens  and 
the  earth. 


24 

When  he  examines  the  mechanism  of  hia  own  system  ; 
the  materials  of  its  composition,  and  the  part  each  organ  is 
designed  to  perform' ;  the  fine  adaptation  of  means  to  ends 
which  every- where  manifests  itself ;  the  wise  and  wonderful 
laws  by  which  the  limbs  perform  their  functions,  and  the 
nerves  act  their  part;  how  the  heart  accomplishes  its  vast 
work  of  purification,  collecting  and  distributing,  as  from  one 
huge  reservoir,  the  life-giving  current  through  the  whole 
system;  the  wonderful  construction  of  the  brain,  and  its 
oflBce  as  the  organ  of  the  mind;  the  mysterious  process  of 
growth  and  decay  which  is  continually  going  on;  the  various 
ends  to  which  this  complicated  machine  may  be  applied, — 
when  he  examines  all  these  relations,  may  he  not,  will  he  not 
exclaim  with  the  l^salmist,  "1  am  fearfully  and  wonderfully 
made?" 

If  he  opens  the  page  of  history,  reads  the  records  of  the 
past,  and  examines  God's  dealings  with  other  nations,  he  will 
see  all  things  under  the  control  of  some  superintending  Power 
who  is  overruling  and  guiding  the  same.  He  will  see  nation 
after  nation  rebelling  against  God,  going  farther  and  farther 
away  from  his  counsels,  condemned  to  be  destroyed  by  others, 
and  these  in  their  turn  destined,  for  a  similar  reason,  to  meet 
the  same  fate.  He  will  see  other  peoples  who  trust  in  God 
and  obey  his  precepts,  gifted  with  the  light  of  truth  while  all 
around  is  immersed  in  a  worse  than  Egyptian  darkness.  As 
long  as  they  heeded  the  teaching  of  a  Divine  Ruler,  they 
were  preserved  from  the  power  of  internal  faction  and 
external  foes,  which  had  destroyed  other  nations.  They  grew 
up  in  wisdom  and  piety.  Their  rulers  were  men  of  integrity 
and  uprightness.  He  will  see  wicked  kings  who  were  guilty 
of  leading  the  people  into  idolatry,  stricken  from  their 
thrones,  and  their  mighty  empires,  which  had  terrified  nations 
and  astonished  the  world  by  their  grandeur  and  magnificence, 
crushed  to  earth.     Amid  the  din  of  battle,  the  rise  and  fall  of 


25 

empires,  the  crushing  of  kings,  and  the  upbuilding  of  king- 
doms, he  sees  the  church  preserved,  and  the  gospel  of  the 
Redeemer  still  safe.  If  not  in  tlie  temple  of  the  crowned 
monarch,  it  is  found  in  the  dwelling  of  tlie  humble  servant  of 
Jehovah.  If  he  thus  carefully  studies  the  history  of  by-gone 
ages,  will  he  not  more  fully  understand  the  truth  that  ''happy 
is  that  people  whose  God  is  the  Lord  ?" 

Will  not  a  man  instructed  in  all  these  various  departments 
of  thought,  have  grander  conceptions  of  God,  of  man,  of 
time  and  eternity,  of  heaven  and  hell,  of  life  and  death,  of  all 
those  main  pillars  in  the  temple  of  Ciiristianity,  than  he  who 
has  scarcely  been  beyond  the  limits  of  English  Grammar? 
Will  not  the  mind  of  a  Thomas  Dick,  Chalmers,  Robert  Hall, 
Luther,  Melancthon,  or  Jonathan  Edwards  have  nobler  views 
of  God,  more  enlarged  ideas  of  Christianity,  of  God's  infinity 
and  goodness,  than  the  man  who  has  read  the  word  of  God, 
deprived  oi  all  these  helps  ?  With  their  minds  burdened 
with  such  views  of  the  Deity,  with  all  their  powers  strung  to 
the  highest  tension,  thoroughly  alive  to  the  greatness  and 
grandeur  of  the  subjects  with  which  they  liave  to  deal,  the 
interests  of  time  and  eternity,  of  God  and  man  pressing  home 
upon  their  hearts,  would  they  not  be  better  fitted  for  the  great 
work  of  teaching  the  people,  than  deprived  of  such  training? 

Aptness  to  teach  implies  qualifications,  and  these  demand 
extensive  scientific  attainments  ;  at  least  more  than  an  ordi- 
nary acquaintance  with  the  vast  domain  of  science.  In 
keeping  with  this  view,  I  quote  the  pertinent  remarks  of  the 
late  Dr.  Alexander  of  Princeton :  "  Indeed,  to  speak  the 
truth,  there  is  scarcely  any  science  or  branch  of  knowledge 
which  may  not  be  made  subservient  to  theology.  Natural 
history,  chemistry,  and  geology  have  sometimes  been  of  im- 
portant service  in  assisting  the  biblical  student  to  solve 
diflficulties  contained  in  Scripture;  or  in  enabling  him  to  repel 
the  assaults  of  atlversaries  which  were  made  under  cover  of 


26 

these  sciences.  A  general  acquaintance  with  the  whole  circle 
of  science  is  of  more  consequence  to  the  theologian  than  at 
first  sight  appears.  Not  to  mention  the  intimate  connection 
which  exists  between  all  parts  of  truth,  in  consequence  of 
which  important  light  may  be  collected  from  the  remotest 
quarters,  it  may  be  observed  that  the  state  of  learning  in  the 
world  requires  the  advocates  of  the  Bible  to  attend  to  many 
things  which  may  not  in  themselves  be  absolutely  necessary. 
He  must  be  able  to  maintain  his  standing  as  a  man  of  learn- 
ing. He  must  be  able  to  converse  on  the  various  topics  of 
learning  with  other  literary  men,  otherwise  due  respect  will 
not  be  paid  to  him,  and  his  sacred  office  may  suffer  contempt, 
in  consequence  of  his  appearing  to  be  ignorant  of  what  it  is 
expected  all  learned  men  should  be  acquainted  with.  " 

He  must  defend  the  truth.  Every  minister,  like  Paul,  "  is 
set  for  the  defense  of  the  gospel. "  Pie  must  be  able  not  only 
''to  exhort,  but  convince  the  gainsayers."  The  armies  of 
infidelity  have  planted  their  batteries,  and  are  ready  and 
waiting  to  hurl  their  leveled  artillery  at  the  fortress  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  woe  be  to  that  officer  who  is  found  wanting. 
Their  sentinels  are  on  the  alert,  and  every  avenue  must  be 
carefully  guarded.  We  have  nothing  to  fear  unless  we  under- 
rate the  enemy,  and  allow  ourselves  to  become  the  victims  of 
a  careless  indifference.  When  wide  awake  to  the  contest, 
and  knowing  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  the  church  has 
always  sent  forth  her  champions  who  have  struck  terror  to  the 
hearts  of  her  foes,  demolished  their  strongholds,  and  brought 
lasting  honor  to  the  cause  of  truth.  We  still  find  some  who 
love  darkness  rather  than  light;  whose  whole  aim  is  to 
weaken  the  strength  of  the  Christian ;  throw  doubt  on  the 
evidences  of  his  faith;  cut  the  cords  that  bind  him  to  his 
God ;  banish  true  piety  from  the  laud,  and  make  of  this 
moral  world  a  "waste,  howling  wilderness.  "  The  church  has 
challenged  her  enemies  to  the  contest,  and  her  leaders,  trust- 


27 

ing^  in  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon,  have  done  battle 
for  the  truth,  and  have  conquered.  From  the  days  of  Por- 
phyry and  Celsus  unto  the  present,  slie  has  been  able  to 
withstand  all  opposition.  Science,  falsely  so  called,  has  been 
arrayed  against  her,  but  true  science  has  faithfully  repelled 
the  dart.  In  the  early  history  of  the  church,  when  infidelity 
and  error  were  running  rampant ;  when  Arianism,  Socinian- 
ism,  Sabellianism,  Nestorianism,  and  a  thousand  other  errors 
had  flooded  the  church,  there  were  still  some  champions,  who, 
as  one  mighty  breastwork,  planted  themselves  on  the  defens- 
ive, and  rolled  back  the  fearful  tide  of  sin.  On  through 
every  century,  when  there  was  danger,  there  were  defenders. 

A  Watson  is  always  found  to  fling  back  into  his  teeth  the 
ribaldry  of  a  Tom  Paine,  or  the  falsehoods  of  a  Voltaire. 
The  sophisms  of  Hume  have  met  more  than  their  match  in 
the  logic  of  a  Campbell.  When  the  court  was  thronged  with 
literary  infidels ;  when  the  minds  of  the  learned  were  verging 
toward  irreligion ;  when  moral  gloom  appeared  to  have 
settled  upon  tlie  land,  then  Bishop  Butler  arose,  and  with  a 
logic  unsurpassed  since  the  days  of  the  apostles,  with  the 
very  weapons  of  his  opponents,  hurled  blows  upon  them  from 
which  they  have  not  yet  recovered.  Cudworth,  Boyle,  Stil- 
lingfleet,  Newton,  Leslie,  Clark,  Leland,  Warburton,  Watson, 
Chalmers,  Robert  Hall,  Edwards,  Paley,  with  a  host  of  others 
of  later  date,  McCosh,  Rodgers,  Baclianan,  Hengstenberg, 
Walker,  Alexander,  Hodge,  Kirwan,  and  others  of  kindred 
reputation,  are  names  of  which  the  church  may  justly  feel 
proud;  names  that  the  world  will  not  willingly  let  die; 
names  that  are  interwoven  with  the  existence  of  the  Christian 
church. 

Infidelity  still  reigns,  and  champions  for  the  truth  are 
wanted.  Foes  are  at  work  without,  attempting  to  destroy  our 
holy  Christianity.  They  have  changed  their  tactics,  but  are 
as  treacherous  and  warlike  as  ever.     Having:  left  the  vautasre 


28 

ground  which  metaphysics  seemed  to  give  them,  they  have 
planted  themselves  on  the  domain  of  science,  to  be  in  their 
turn  dislodged  from  these  fortifications,  and  driven  from  every 
covert.  Physiology  in  infidel  hands,  is  employed  to  disprove 
the  unity  of  man.  Geology  is  asked  to  tell  a  tale  that  shall 
contradict  the  Mosaic  account  of  creation.  Astronomy  is 
bribed  to  testify  that  there  has  been  no  creation,  but  that  the 
stars,  with  all  the  retinue  of  heaven,  are  but  emanations  from 
the  great  I  AM.  The  records  of  Egypt  and  the  sculptured 
tablets  of  Nineveh  have  been  arrayed  in  battle  against  the 
chronology  of  Scripture.  Natural  science  has  been  made  to 
contradict  the  truth  of  a  creation  from  nothing,  and  has 
accounted  for  all  things  by  the  theory  of  spontaneous  gener- 
ation, effects  being  produced  by  bodies  coming  in  contact, 
subject  to  certain  conditions  and  restrictions.  A  personal 
God  has  been  denied,  and  the  beauty  and  grandeur  every- 
where around  us,  manifesting  to  the  Christian  some  bountiful 
Benefactor,  are  but  part  and  parcel  of  the  universal  God,  the 
To  Pan  of  the  Greeks.  A  Providence  has  been  cast  aside, 
and  all  things  reduced  to  the  control  of  natural  laws,  which 
are  guided  and  controlled  by  nothing,  and  that  these  work  out 
our  happiness  and  misery.  German  rationalism,  rather  ^r-ra• 
tionalism,  is  busy,  and  would  reduce  every  thing  to  mere  reason; 
would  strip  the  Bible  of  its  divinity,  and  give  us  no  more,  if 
indeed  as  much,  than  the  bald  skeleton  of  truth.  Every-where 
we  see  the  opponents  of  the  truth  planting  themselves  for 
another  attack.  From  the  citadel  of  natural  science  they  hope 
to  cast  their  engines  of  destruction.  Skillful  in  maneuvering, 
they  must  be  met  by  men  qualified  to  dislodge  them  from 
their  position.  You,  and  I,  and  others  must  see  to  it  that  the 
cause  of  our  Master  receives  no  injury.  How  shall  we  accom- 
plish this  herculean  task  unless  prepared  to  give  battle  with 
their  own  weapons?  To  do  this  successfully,  the  weapons 
they  brandish  must  be  made  the  subject  of  special  study. 


29 

The  vigorous  words  of  the  lamented  Hugh  Miller  are  per- 
tinent to  this  subject.  Speaking  of  the  study  of  the  sciences, 
he  says:  "Judging  from  the  preparations  made  in  their 
colleges  and  halls,  men  do  not  now  seem  sufficiently  aware 
— though  the  low  thunder  of  every  railway,  and  the  snort  of 
every  steam  engine,  and  the  wliistle  of  the  wind  amid  the 
wires  of  every  electric  telegraph  seem  to  publish  the  fact — 
that  it  is  in  the  department  of  physics,  not  metapiiysics,  that 
the  greater  minds  of  the  age  are  engaged  ;  that  the  Lockes, 
Humes,  Kants,  Berkeleys,  Dugald  Stewarts,  and  Thomas 
Browns  belong  to  the  past;  and  tiiat  tiie  philosophers  of  the 
present  time,  tall  enough  to  be  seen  all  the  world  over,  are 
the  Humboldts,  the  Aragos,  the  Agassizes,  the  Liebigs,  the 
Owens,  the  Ilerschels,  the  Bucklands,  and  the  Brewsters. 
The  Cuviers,  the  Iluttons,  the  Cavendishes,  and  the  Watts, 
with  their  successors,  the  practical  philosophers  of  the  present 
age,  men  whose  achievements  in  physical  science  we  find 
marked  on  the  surface  of  the  country  in  characters  which  might 
be  read  from  the  moon,  are  not  adequately  represented  (in  our 
colleges).  It  would,  perhajis,  be  more  correct  to  say  that  they 
are  not  represented  at  all,  and  the  clergy  as  a  class  suifer 
themselves  to  linger  far  in  the  rear  of  an  intelligent  laity,  a 
full  age  behind  the  requirements  of  the  time.  Let  them  not 
shut  their  eyes  to  the  danger  which  is  obviously  coming. 
Tlie  battle  of  the  evidences  will  have  as  certainly  to  be  fought 
on  the  field  of  pky steal  science,  as  it  was  contested  in  the  last 
age  on  that  of  metaphysics.  " 

This  brood  of  infidels  is  prolific.  The  men  of  Athens  were 
accustomed  to  banish  from  their  city  the  solitary  skeptic  who 
appeared  among  them.  We  have  thrown  down  the  gauntlet 
and  challenged  them  to  the  contest,  and  it  behooves  us  to 
prepare  well  for  the  struggle.  We  still  have  a  Kant,  a 
Compte  with  whom  we  must  contenoi.  Lamarck,  Spinoza, 
Hegel,   Strauss,   and    Schellirig   must  be  met.      Carlyle  yet 


30 

writes.  The  sugar-coated  skepticism  of  Holmes  is  doing  its 
work  upon  the  literary  minds  of  the  age.  "  Vestiges, " 
"  Cosmos,  "  and  the  "  Constitution  of  Man  "  are  read  and 
believed  by  many.  Owen  and  his  school  are  re-hashed  to  us 
in  a  new  form  almost  every  year.  Mackey  tells  us  of  the 
"  Progress  of  Intellect, "  and  Professor  Newman  gives  us  his 
"  Phases  of  Faith.  "  Emerson  and  Parker  speak  to  us  of  the 
"  Infinite,  "  the  "  Over-soul. "  D'Holbach  treats  us  to  cold 
materialism,  while  Harriet  Martineau  administers  lessons  on 
duty. 

Our  land  is  flooded  with  infidelity  and  infidel  publications. 
The  church  must  meet  them  and  crusii  them.  Hitherto  she 
has  proved  herself  to  be  more  than  a  match  for  all  her 
opponents.  Shall  she  still  retain  that  superiority,  and  show 
that  she  is  equal  to  the  contest,  or  sluggishly  sit  down  while 
the  enemy  sows  tares  within  her  borders  i  The  answer  rests 
with  you  and  with  me.  To  wliom  shall  the  church,  in  her 
extremity,  look  for  leaders  if  not  to  her  ministers;  and  woe  be 
to  the  church  when  she  sends  forth  ignorant  and  untutored 
men  to  give  battle  to  the  powers  of  scientific  infidelity.  A 
Ball's  Blufi*  or  Manassas  shall  be  the  fate  of  the  church  when 
to  unskillful  hands  she  commits  her  destiny  in  the  hour  of 
trial.  Difficulties  in  science  and  philosophy  must  be  met. 
Scripture  must  be  reconciled  with  science ;  passages  of  holy 
writ,  with  each  other.  By  sound  argument  the  church  must 
meet  and  vanquish  all  opposition  ;  must  make  the  Bible,  and 
reason,  and  revelation  teach  the  same  doctrine ;  must  build 
around  her  possessions  fortifications  that  the  weapons  of  skep- 
ticism shall  not  be  able  to  harm. 

What  saith  the  Scriptui'es  f  After  all,  these  must  be  our 
guide.  I  have  already  referred  to  the  example  of  the  apostles, 
as  afibrding  no  argument  in  favor  of  an  ignorant  ministry. 
I  have  shown  that  in  the  Jewish  dispensation  learned  men 
were  set  apart  for  the  service  of  the  sanctuary.      When  God 


31 

communed  with  men,  he  did  so  through  intelligent  mediums. 
He  did  not  change  that  policy  when  the  Christian  dispensa- 
tion was  inaugurated.  Almost  the  last  message  communi- 
cated by  the  great  Apostle  to  Timothy  was,  "the  things  which 
thou  hast  heard  of  me  among  many  witnesses,  the  same 
commit  thou  to  faithful  men  who  shall  be  able  to  instruct 
others  also. "  How  shall  thuy  teticii  unless  qualified,  and  how 
qualify  themselves  unless  by  diligent,  patient  study  ?  The 
same  apostle  writing  to  Tilus,  a  youthful  minister,  exhorted 
him  "to  hold  fast  the  faithful  word  as  he  had  been  taught" — 
b}'  Paul  himself,  and  not  by  inspiration — that  he  '"may  be 
able  by  sound  doctrine  both  to  exhort  and  convince  the  gaiu- 
sayers. "  How  shall  he  do  this  without  a  knowledge  of  the 
objections  of  his  opponents,  and  the  best  metliod  of  refuting 
them  ?  He  also  gives  a  reason  for  this  :  "  For  there  are  many 
unruly,  and  vain  talkers,  and  deceivers,  specially  they  of  the 
circumcision,  whose  mouths  must  be  stopped  ;  who  subvert 
whole  houses,  teaching  things  which  they  ought  not.  "  It  is 
the  business  of  the  minister  to  stop  their  mouths ;  and  how 
shall  he  accomplish  this  work  if  his  talk  be  as  vain  as  their 
own.  "  But  speak  thou  the  things  which  become  sound  doc- 
trine, "  How  can  he  do  this  unless  he  first  ascertain  what 
Bound  doctrine  demands?  "Not  giving  heed  to  Jewish  fables 
and  commandments  of  men  that  turn  from  the  truth.  "  He 
must  know  what  these  are,  so  as  to  warn  his  flock  against 
their  evil  tendency.  ''  In  doctrine  showing  uncorruptness, 
gravity,  sincerity,  soundness  of  speech,  that  can  not  be  con- 
demned. "  Can  an  ignorant  man  exhibit  the  soundness  that 
the  apostle  demands  ?  ''  Let  no  man  despise  tiiee. "  So 
preacii  and  conduct  yourself  that  no  injury  shall  result  to  the 
cause  of  your  Master  from  your  teaching  or  your  conduct. 
Paul  informs  Timothy  of  some  who  "desired  to  be  teachers  of 
the  law,  understanding  neither  what  they  say,  nor  whereof 
they  affirm,"  and  exhorts  him  to  teach  the  law  in  all  its 


38 

purity,  and  not  as  others  have  done.  He  makes  known  to 
him  the  requisite  qualifications.  That  he  should  not  be  a 
novice,  but  instructed  in  his  work.  Prophecies  had  been 
foretold  to  the  intent  that  in  the  last  days  many  should 
depart  from  the  faith,  and  should  teach  false  doctrines.  He  is 
authorized  to  put  his  brethren  in  remembrance  of  these 
things,  and  for  so  doing  would  be  commended.  But  how 
teach  his  members,  if  he  understood  them  not  himself.  In 
order  to  do  this,  he  is  commanded,  "  Till  I  come  give  atten- 
tion to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to  doctrine ;  neglect  not  the 
gift  that  is  in  thee;  meditate  on  these  things;  give  thyself 
wholly  to  them,  that  thy  profit  may  appear  unto  all ;  take 
heed  unto  thyself  and  thy  doctrine ;  continue  in  them,  for  in 
doing  thus  thou  shalt  save  thyself  and  them  that  hear  thee." 
If  we  must  but  open  our  mouths  and  the  Spirit  will  fill  them, 
as  some  wiseacres  attempt  to  teach,  why  was  Paul  guilty  of 
the  consummate  blunder  of  recommending  reading  and  medi- 
tation to  the  youthful  Timothy  ?  '^  Keep  that  which  is  com- 
mitted to  tliy  trust,  avoiding  profane  and  vain  babblings  and 
oppositions  of  science,  falsely  so  called.  "  The  way  to  do 
this  was  first  to  ascertain  the  nature  of  those  scientific  contra- 
dictions, if  there  were  any.  "  Hold  fast  to  the  form  of  sound 
words  which  thou  has  heard  of  me. "  "  Study  to  show 
thyself  approved  unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be 
ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth.  "  Study  the 
word  and  works  of  Deity.  Quality  yourself  for  the  arduous 
duties  awaiting  you,  so  that  the  church  shall  not  be  ashamed 
of  your  ministrations ;  and  do  all  this  that  you  may  rightly 
divide  and  enforce  the  word  of  truth.  Could  stronger  lan- 
guage be  employed  ?  "  All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration 
of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine,  for  reproof,  for  correction, 
for  instruction  in  righteousness,  that  the  man  of  God  may  be 
thoroughly  furnished  unto  all  good  works.  "  The  minister, 
therefore,  must   be   mighty   in   the   Scriptures   before   he   is 


33 

properly  fitted  for  his  business.  "When  thou  comest,  bring 
■witlj  thee  tiie  books,  and  especially  the  parchments.  "  Paul, 
witli  all  his  Icjiowledge,  found  it  necessary  to  consult  books, 
aiul  may  even  have  had  his  written  sermons.  "I  am  set  for 
the  defense  of  the  gospel."  How  defend  it  when  you  have  no 
knowledge  of  the  enemy,  and  are  not  qualified  to  repel  his 
assaults  ?  "  Contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints."  Shall  we  not  accomplish  more  if  we  go  forth 
with  a  quiver  full  of  arrows,  than  if  we  attempt  to  cope 
single  IiandeiH  Paul  boasted  that  lie  had  not  "shunned  to 
declare  unto  them  the  whole  counsel  of  God."  Can  a  man 
do  this  when  he  is  almost  totally  ignorant  of  a  part  of  that 
counsel  ?  "  And  he  gave  pastors  and  teachers,  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  for 
edifying  the  body  of  Cin-ist. "  How  can  a  minister  instruct 
and  cdily  his  people  unless  his  knowledge  be  superior  "to 
theirs;  and  how  can  this  be,  in  this  enlightened  age  of  the 
world,  unless  he  be  an  intelligent  man?  "Everj'^  scribe 
which  is  instructed  unto  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto 
a  man  that  is  an  householder,  who  bringeth  forth  out  of  his 
treasures  things  new  and  old."  But  how  can  he  do  this 
if  there  be  nothing  in  his  treasury  save  the  old,  and  that  in 
homeo])athic  doses?  We  are  told  that  "Ezra  caused  the 
people  to  understand  the  reading."  So  must  the  minister 
and  how  can  lie  unless  he  first  understand  it  himself? 
The  Scriptures  every-where  approve,  yea,  demand  an  intel- 
ligent n)inistry.  The  greatest  wonder  is,  how  any  man  who 
had  carefully  read  them,  should  conclude  that  God  chose  iwno- 
rant  and  illiterate  men  as  the  embassadors  of  his  kingdom. 

The  Fathers  understood  Christ  as  demanding  an  educated 
ministry,  and  for  this  purpose  seminaries  were  established  for 
the  instruction  of  students  in  theology.  At  a  very  earlr 
period  there  was  a  seminary  of  high  reputation  in  the  city  of 
Alexandria,  in  which  candidates  for  the  ministry  were  trained 


34 

np  together  under  the  ablest  instructors  ;  seminaries  in  which 
sucli  men  as  Pantaenus,  Clemens  Alexandrinus,  and  Origen 
taught  with  eminent  success.  Eusebius  and  Jerome  tell  us 
that  this  seminary  had  existed  and  enjoyed  a  succession  of 
able  ministers  from  the  time  of  Mark  the  Evangelist.  Poly- 
carp,  a  disciple  of  John  the  Apostle,  we  are  told  in 
ecclesiastical  history,  established  a  seminary  at  Smyrna. 
John  himself  founded  one  at  Ephesus.  Writers  on  Chris- 
tian Antiquities  teach  us  that  at  a  very  early  period  seminaries 
of  a  similar  kind  were  found  at  Kome,  Cesarea,  Antioch,  and 
other  places,  all  of  which  accomplished  a  good  work,  and  were 
thought  essential  to  the  honor  and  prosperity  of  the  church. 

Of  course  this  action  in  the  direction  of  learning  met  with 
some  opposition.  Says  the  historian  Mosheim,  "It  must  not 
be  supposed  that  the  Christian  church  was  full  of  literary, 
wise,  and  scientific  men.  For  there  was  no  law  as  yet  to 
prevent  the  ignorant  and  illiterate  from  entering  the  sacred 
oflBce,  and  it  appears  from  explicit  testimony  that  many  of 
both  the  bishops  and  presbyters  were  entirely  destitute  of 
science  and  learning.  Besides,  the  party  was  both  numerous 
and  powerful,  who  considered  learning  as  injurious,  and  even 
destructive  to  true  piety. "  The  existence  of  such  schools 
shows  how  the  leading  minds  of  the  age  felt  the  necessity  of 
an  able  ministry.  Had  such  a  ministry  continued,  the  church 
would  never  have  sunk  to  the  depths  of  wretchedness  which 
she  experienced  during  the  darkness  of  the  middle  ages. 

Even  at  that  early  day,  immediately  after  the  establishment 
of  Christianity,  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  did  not  super- 
sede the  necessity  of  extensive  knowledge,  and  thorough 
training  in  the  embassador  for  Christ.  Nor  does  he  do  so 
now.     "  The  gods  help  those  who  help  themselves." 

What  does  history  teach  us  of  the  mutual  relation  existing 
between  learning  and  Christianity?  The  corruptions  of 
Christianity,  by  which  the  simple  apostolic  ministry  became 


a  mediatoiy  priesthood ;  and  this  priesthood  built  up  into  a 
mighty  hierarchy  ;  repentance  was  perverted  into  penance, 
and  God's  free  gift  of  pardon  was  changed  into  the  absohition 
of  the  priest,  sold  for  money ;  the  simple  and  touching 
sacrifice  of  Christ  into  idolatrous  mummeries ;  the  whole 
system  of  corruption  which  finally  culminated  in  the  Catholic 
Church, — all  these  were  uot  the  result  of  learning,  but  of 
ignorance.  They  grew  out  of  the  enthusiasm  of  perhaps 
honest,  yet  ignorant  and  misguided  men.  They  grew  to 
maturity,  and  culminated  in  an  age  when  an  unreading  laity 
was  led  and  instructed  by  an  ignorant  priesthood,  who  could 
not  write  their  own  sermons.  With  such  a  ministry,  no 
wonder  that  a  night  of  darkness  settled  upon  the  church. 
Like  priest,  like  people,  Christianity  was  lost  sight  of  amid 
the  darkness  of  a  superstitious  and  ignorant  age.  But  as 
soon  as  universities  were  founded,  marts  of  intellectual  com- 
merce sprang  up ;  metropolitan  centers  of  discussion  and 
inquiry  were  established.  Then  any  man  could  have  seen 
that  a  giant  was  born  ;  an  influence  about  to  be  exerted  which 
would  one  day  shake  thai;  mighty  fabric,  and  scatter  its 
foolish  dogmas  to  the  four  winds.  The  Schoolmen  came  upon 
the  stage.  In  these  medieval  schools,  there  was  hewn 
and  shaped  together,  with  curious  cutting  and  carving,  that 
system  of  scholastic  theology,  of  which  much  of  the  contro- 
versy of  our  day  is  but  a  reproduction.  They  did  not  elicit 
much  new  truth  that  was  valuable,  but  they  sharpened  their 
powers  for  the  work  before  them.  Thought  was  stimulated, 
and  a  yearning  for  unknown  truth  created,  which  might 
serve  to  introduce  the  era  of  intellectual  light  that  soon  came. 
As  God  from  time  to  time  raised  up  mighty  champions, 
who  shot  like  bolts  of  livid  lightning  across  the  vast  expanse 
of  mental  gloom,  who  were  they ;  what  were  they ;  and 
where  were  they  found?  Who,  in  the  fourteenth  century, 
aroused  all  England  with  his  manly  eloquence  and  vindicated 


36 

Scripture,  in  tones  heard  all  over  Europe?  It  was  Wickliffe, 
trained  in  Oxford  College,  and  crowned  with  academic  honors. 
In  that  University  of  Oxford,  he  found  a  fit  position  and  fit 
enginery  for  his  attack  upon  the  strongholds  of  superstition. 
In  the  next  century  who  were  the  witnesses  for  Christ,  before 
whom  pontiff  and  emperor  trembled,  and  the  Council  of  Con- 
stance condemned  to  the  flames  ?  Go  into  their  cells.  Stand 
by  the  fires  built  for  tliem  in  the  meadow  by  the  liver-side. 
Listen  to  their  testimony  in  prison  and  in  flame.  See  their 
ashes  mingled  with  the  running  waters !  Who  are  they  ? 
Where  were  they  trained  ?  They  are  scholars — learned  men. 
In  the  University  of  Prague  they  lifted  up  their  voices  for 
Christ,  and  from  that  university  John  Huss,  and  his  com- 
panion Jerome,  came  to  seal  their  testimony  with  their  lives. 
Another  century  introduced  the  Reformation .  Who  accom- 
plished that?  "Doctor  Martin  Luther,"  as  the  Germans 
call  him,  was  a  finished  scholar.  His  name  is  inseparable 
from  the  University  of  Wittenberg.  The  first  gun  fired  in 
that  struggle,  M^as  the  nailing  of  Luther's  theses  for  discussion, 
according  to  the  scholastic  forms  of  debate.  The  reformers 
were  the  learned  men  of  their  day.  The  age  of  thu  lieforma- 
tion  was  the  revival  of  learning.  Look  at  iiistory,  and  you 
will  be  compelled  to  confess  that  learning  produced  the 
Eeformation.     Why  deny  its  power  for  good  now  ? 

Says  Professor  Tyler,  in  his  excellent  little  work  on  ''Prayer 
for  Colleges,"  "  The  reformers — those  before  the  Keformation, 
as  well  as  the  reformers  usually  so-called — Wicklifie,  and 
Huss,  and  Eeuchlin,  and  Erasmus,  Luther,  and  Melancthon, 
and  Bucer,  and  Calvin,  and  Tyndale,  and  Bilney,  and 
Latimer,  and  Knox  were  men  trained  in  the  universities,  and 
thus  pu|ared  by  the  providence,  as  well  as  the  grace  of  God, 
for  the  work  which  they  were  destined  to  accomplish.  It  was 
while  they  were  students  in  the  university  that  new  light 
dawned  upon  Uic-ir  souls,  and  the  Greek  Testament^  accom- 


37 

panied  in  several  instances  by  the  Latin  translation  of 
Erasmus,  was,  to  most  of  them,  tlie  source  from  whence  the 
new  liglit  shone.  The  larger  part  of  them  were  afterward 
professors  in  the  universities,  and  from  these  fortresses  of 
learning  and  influence  thev  hurled  their  missiles  at  the 
corruptions  of  tlie  papal  church ;  from  these  centers  of  illu- 
mination tliey  scattered  light  over  the  dark  nations.  Th» 
Universities  of  Prague  and  Wittenherg^  of  Basle^  and 
Lausanne^  of  Oxford  and  Camhridge^  of  Strashurg  and  St. 
Andrezcs,  wer-e  the  hirth-places  of  the  Rcforviation.'''' 

Kext  came  the  conflict  of  Puritanism  with  hierarchy. 
Whence  cume  rurltauism  ?  Where  armed  for  the  struggle? 
By  the  Cam  and  the  Isis  it  gathered  strength  to  battle  with 
the  storm.  These  universities  of  learning  yielded  their  fruit, 
which  still  remains  for  the  healing  of  nations.  Next  came 
the  great  Methodist  a.wakening  which  stirred  the  English 
people,  and  is  still  telliiig  happily  upon  the  destiny  of  the 
world.  Wliere  was  Methodism  born?  In  an  Oxford  College 
where  a  little  company  of  scholars  who  believed  that  religion 
did  not  consist  in  dry  formalities,  but  in  the  soul's  experience, 
were  wunt  to  meet.  Wesley  and  Whitefield  were  there. 
There  was  found  the  power  that  was  to  shake  Great  Britain, 
and  spread  beyond  the  oceau. 

Samuel  J.  Mills,  imbued  with  a  zeal  for  God's  cause,  and 
burning  with  a  desire  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen  world, 
collecting  a  few  of  his  companions,  went  out  into  a  field  near 
to  Williams  College  to  pray  for  those  who  sit  in  darkness. 
Ere  they  lelt  the  ''  haystack,  "  around  whose  base  tliey  had 
assembled,  they  pledged  themselves  not  to  rest  until  some 
aiovemt-nt  should  be  set  on  foot,  that  would  carry  the  gospel 
beyond  the  sea.  This  college  student,  with  his  associates, 
gave  birth  to  the  great  American  Missionary  movement.. 
The  flame  they  kindled  has  been  kept  alive  upon  that  and 
other  altars.      American   missionaries    have   not   only   been 

3* 


38 

learned  men,  but  with  few  exceptions,  have  consecrated  them- 
selves to  tiie  noble  work  while  engaged  in  college  studies. 

Time  will  not  allow  me  to  accumulate  references.  History 
is  full  of  them.  They  all  show  that  when  a  great  work  is  to 
be  performed,  when  a  mighty  impetus  is  to  be  communicated 
to  the  sluggish  movements  of  the  church,  a  learned  man  is 
called  into  the  field  to  accomplish  the  mission.  The  founder 
of  the  church  with  which  most  of  us  stand  connected — I 
mean  William  Ottekbein — was  a  finished  scholar,  read  in 
Latin,  Greek,  Hebrew,  and  Divinity.  Could  I  write  tlie 
influence  of  learning  and  learned  men  in  furthering  the 
interests  of  Christianity,  and  the  untold  good  they  have 
accomplished,  1  would  simply  write  the  history  of  tlie  Chris- 
tian church.  On  the  other  hand,  when  leai-jiing  aixl  religion 
have  been  separated,  and  made  to  travel  their  pathways 
alone ;  when  religion  has  discarded  the  abundance  of  aid 
which  science  has  been  willing  to  grant,  the  clergy  are  illiter- 
ate and  blind,  the  laity  go  astray,  and  error  and  superstition 
like  a  dark  pall,  settle  down  upon  the  church.  Let  us  read 
history  to  profit. 

Thix  age  emphatieaUy  demands  an  educated  ininisiry.  In 
some  respects  it  has  no  parallel.  See  the  subtiic  infidelity 
which  is  every-where  prevalent;  approaching  us  s^x"^  often  in 
the  guise  of  truth  ;  containing,  as  did  the  Lidian's  story,  two 
truths  to  one  lie;  truth  so  skilll'ully  interwoven  witii  falseliood 
as  to  deceive  the  very  elect;  infusing  itself  into  every  system 
and  every  creed  ;  plying  every  means  in  its  power  for  the 
accomplishment  of  its  neiarious  designs.  How  is  the  man  of 
God  to  meet  this?  How  recognize  and  refute  it  when  he  does 
meet  it?  IN  ever  before  has  such  subtilty  been  manifested, 
ai,d  never  before  have  skilllul  men  been  in  so  great  demand. 
Kow  is  the  time  s})oken  of  by  the  prophet— now  is  his  pre- 
diction verified:  "The  time  will  come  when  they  will  not  endure 
Bound  doctrine,  but  after  their  own   lusts  they   will    lieap  to 


39 

tlieniselves  teachers  having  itching  ears.  And  they  shall  turn 
away  their  ears  from  the  truth,  and  shall  be  tnrneil  unto 
fables.  " 

This  ago  is  independent  in  thought — is  inquisitive.  Man- 
kind now,  more  than  ever,  refuse  to  be  satisfied  with  an  ipse 
dixit.  Men  have  been  priest-led  That  time  has  passed, 
and  the  strings  are  broken.  Now  they  want  information, 
but  desire  to  form  tlieir  own  conclusions.  The  thunders 
of  the  Inquisition  no  longer  compel  them  to  think  as 
tlie  church  thinks.  This  spirit  pervades  all  the  departments 
of  life,  of  literature,  of  morals.  Fulsome  bombast,  high- 
sounding  phrases,  vehement  declamation,  huge  '''•scsqitipedalia 
ver'ha^''  will  no  longer  avail.  By  the  serious,  religion  is 
thought  too  important  a  matter  to  be  trilled  with  ;  by  the 
trifling,  empty  declamation  is  turned  into  foolishness.  But 
cue  way  to  meet  this  spirit, — qualiiV  your  teaciiers. 

This  is  a  thinking  age.  Never  was  man  so  wakeful  as 
noM-.  lie  is  not  content  to  remain  where  his  father  was,  but 
is  ever  seeking  new  truths;  prying  into  new  difficulties.  He 
is  not  satisfied  with  the  surface,  but  must  probe  deeper.  He  is 
fiercely  iconoclastic.  Nothing  too  holy,  nothing  too  sacred  to 
escape  his  scrutiny.  Books  and  ])apers  are  every-where  prev- 
alent. All  men  read,  and  he  who  reads  thinks.  ''Beware  " 
says  an  able  New  England  writer,  "  when  God  lets  loose  a 
thinker  upon  this  planet.  Then  all  things  are  at  work.  There 
is  not  a  princii)le  in  science  but  its  flank  may  be  turned 
to-mi>rrow.  There  is  not  any  literary  reputation,  not  the 
so-called  eternal  names  of  fame,  that  may  not  be  revised  and 
condemned.  Tlie  very  hopes  of  man,  the  thoughts  of  his 
heart,  the  religion  of  nations,  the  manners  and  morals  of 
mankind  are  all  at  tlie  mercy  of  a  new  generali/.atiou.  " 
Never  before  were  so  many  thinkers  let  loose. 

All  these  matters  must  be  considered  by  the  man  w^ho 
as[>ire8  to  be  a  teacher  in  sacred  things.      To  properly  fill  this 


40 

position,  the  brightest  qualifications  are  not  too  bright;  the 
most  brilliant  talents  none  too  brilliant;  the  most  pro- 
found scholarsiiip  none  too  profound  ;  the  most  varied  powers 
none  too  quick  or  various.  Such  a  man  is  properly  qualified 
"  to  rightly  divide  the  word  of  truth.  " 

Time  passes,  and  I  must  be  brief.      The  subject  is  inex- 
haustible.     In  its  contemplation,  thoughts  crowd  thick  and 
fast  upon  the  mind.      I  can  not  now  speak  of  the  great  need 
of  a  scientific  education  to  the  missionary,  who  is  not  only 
required  to  preach  the  gospel,  but  often  the  civil  and  ecclesi- 
astical interests  of  the  people  rest  in  his  hands,  and  he  must 
devote  a  portion  of  his  time  to  these  if  he  would  establish  a 
permanent  church.      lie  must  be  able  to  teach  science  as  well 
as  religion,  because  the  religious  systems  of  the  heathen  are 
built  upon  a  scientific  foundation,   and  if  you  destroy  these 
pillars,  the  edifice  must  tall.      "  Thus  the  Hindoo  religion  can 
not  stand  without  Hindoo  astronomy  and  cosmogony.    Science 
undermines    the    pillars    of    heathenism,    and    frightens    ita 
votaries  from  its  tottering  walls. "      I  can  barely  refer  to  the 
fact  that  most  of  our  colleges  have  been  established  by  min- 
isters ;    that  the   larger  portion  of  the  professors  are  drawn 
rom  the  ranks  of  the  clergy;  that  they  to  a  great  extent  form 
and    control    the    educational    sentiment    of    a    people,    and 
hereby  hohl  iu  their  hands   a  mighty  power  for   the  accom- 
plishment of  good,  which  it  were  worse  than  madness  to  cast 
aside;    that  the  people  of  this  age  are  a  reading  people,  and 
denuind  the  proper  class  of  books  and  periodicals  ;    that  new 
books  of  theology  are  to  be  written  ;    newspapers  are  to  be 
edited;    tracts   to   be   jirepared    for   distribution    among    the 
people ;    quarterly   reviews   to    be   conducted ;    that  tacts  in 
science  and    history   are   being  made    known,    and    must    be 
applied  to  the  elucidation  of  Scripture  texts;    that  different 
passages  must  be  examined  in  the  light  of  present  scientific 
attainments.      Some  must  undertake  the  work,  and  who  so 


41 

likely  to  be  called  to  the  task  as  the  students  of  our  colleges? 
That  the  work  of  the  minister  is  a  laborious  one,  affording 
little  time  for  study,  and  that  his  preparation  must  be  made 
before  he  enters  upon  tlie  cares  and  duties  of  apastor's  life  ;  that 
ignorance  usually  weakens  the  minister's  power  for  good,  and 
is  the  source  of  incalculable  evils,  productive  of  all  forms  of 
error,  as  the  history  of  the  church  will  abundantly  testify  ; 
that  a  })astor's  influence,  as  a  general  rule,  other  things  being 
equal,  has  always  been  in  proportion  to  his  learning, — all 
these  would  afford  interesting  topics  for  discussion. 

I  have  omitted  to  answer  several  objections  which  are  often 
m'ged  against  this  position.  I  have  done  so  because  they  did 
not  seem  to  me  very  important.  If  the  view  I  have  presented 
be  correct,  there  can  be  no  insurmountable  objections. 

It  may  ap])ear  to  some  of  you  that  I  have  erected  a  high 
standard.  No  higher  than  the  Bible  and  reason  demand. 
Both  alike  ask  that  the  minister  of  God  be  tlioroiigJily  fur- 
nished. "While  contending  for  such  quailifications  in  the  men 
who  now  enter  the  ministry,  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  a  man 
can  do  no  good  and  should  not  preach  unless  he  is  a  finished 
scholar.  Tiie  ciuirch  is  full  of  men,  who  deprived  of  all  the 
advantages  which  we  enjoy,  with  but  the  rudiments  of 
learning,  yet  having  a  heart  burning  with  a  zeal  for  their 
fellow-men,  have  counted  nothing  dear  to  them  that  they 
miirht  win  souls  to  Christ.  There  may  be  before  me  to-nio-ht 
men  who  have  nobly  battled  for  the  truth;  men,  "the  latchets 
of  wiiose  shoes  I  am  unworthy  to  uidoose  ;  "  men,  who  amid 
toils,  and  dangers,  and  afflictions,  have  lived  for  Christ,  and 
labored  to  bring  their  erring  brethren  back  to  the  bosom  of 
their  father,  God.  Their  labors  have-been  blessed,  and  many 
are  the  stars  that  shall  shine  in  their  crowns  of  rejoicing. 
Far  be  it  from  me  to  detract  one  iota  from  the  honor  which 
they  have  richly  deserved.  For  well  do  I  know  the  mighty 
work  tliey  have  accomplished,  and  the  labors  they  have  put 


42 

forth  for  the  welfare  of  the  church.  Like  the  widow,  they 
have  given  every  thing,  and  that  God  who  sees  all  things, 
will  reward  them  for  their  actions.  But  to  3'ou,  young 
gentlemen,  living  in  this  age  of  the  world  when  so  much  is 
demanded  of  the  ministry,  if  you  neglect  the  means  of 
improvement  now  afforded  ;  if  you  weaken  the  influence  you 
could  and  should  possess,  and  thereby  injure  the  cause  of 
your  Master,  and  be  instrumental  in  the  destruction  of  your 
fellow-men,  you  will  be  deserving  of  blame,  and  the  great 
God  will  not  hold  you  guiltless.  Our  fathers  have  almost 
finished  their  work.  They  will  soon  hear  the  message, 
"Come  up  higher."  Upon  you  and  upon  me  rests  the  welfare 
of  Zion.  The  eternal  destinies  of  mankind  are  in  our  hands. 
Shall  we  shoulder  the  responsibility,  and  quit  us  like  men? 
or  shall  we  become  foolish  triflers  in  the  great  work  ?  The 
character  of  the  ministry,  and  the  consequent  standing  of  the 
next  age,  rest  upon  the  young  men  who  are  now  preparing  to 
enter  the  sacred  office.  Away  with  the  idea  that  God  calls 
triflers  into  the  church.  That  while  a  thorough  qualification 
is  necessary  for  the  business  pertaining  to  this  life,  the 
grossest  ignorance  will  not  exclude  one  from  entering  the 
office  of  the  ministry  !  We  want  a  higher  standard  /  want 
no  man  commissioned  to  preach  the  gospel  who  is  totally 
unfitted  for  the  work.  I  urge  upon  you  to  magnify  the  ofiice, 
and  fit  yourselves  for  properly  discharging  all  its  duties. 
*'  Study  to  show  yourselves  approved  of  God  ;  workmen  that 
need  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth." 
Gentlemen,  it  may  be  that  I  address  you  for  the  last  time. 
Indulge  me  a  moment  longer.  I  know  not  how  many  of  you 
will  go  forth  as  embassadoi's  for  Christ.  I  know  that  thou- 
Bands  are  wanted.  ''The  harvest  is  indeed  plenteous,  but  the 
laborers  are  few. "  From  almost  every  land  there  is  a  call 
for  the  bread  of  life.  India  has  opened  wide  her  gates. 
Japan,    long   closed    against   them,    now   demands   religious 


43 

teachers.  The  sunny  plains  of  Africa  are  ready  for  the  white 
man.  From  every  continent,  from  every  island,  from  every 
nook  and  corner  of  the  habitable  earth  comes  the  pleading 
cry,  "Come  over  and  help  us."  Do  you  hear  the  call? 
Will  you  heed  it?  Witliin  the  last  few  months  our  own 
*'  Barbary  States  "  have  been  opened  to  men  who  are  not 
afraid  to  preach  a  pure  gospel.  Never  was  there  such  a 
demand  for  an  able  ministry.  Appreciate  your  position. 
Awake  to  the  responsibilities  resting  upon  you.  Go  forth  to 
the  contest  "thoroughly  furnished,''  and  then  "quit  your- 
selves like  men."  Go  forth  witii  a  double  portion  of  the 
Spirit's  influence  resting  upon  you.  And  whether  called  to 
labor  in  your  native  land,  or  summoned  to  preach  the  gospel 
beyond  the  sea  ;  whether  you  shall  lead  a  quiet,  peaceful  life, 
or  like  the  devoted  missionary,  be  compelled  to  seal  your  testi- 
mony with  your  blood,  I  urge,  I  entreat,  I  implore  you,  in 
the  words  of  the  lamented  Tyng,  "Stand  up  for  Jesus." 
When  you  have  finished  your  work,  and  have  been  summoned 
higher,  may  it  be  written  of  eacii  of  you, 

"  it  fdl  aiu  a  ^adgr ;  ft  Vu'H  at  Ijis  |osl. " 


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